Chapter Eighteen
Sakura stared at herself in the mirror. Taking in her own weary appearance, she sighed. She was plagued once again with bags under her eyes and a throbbing headache. Her body felt heavy like lead from lack of sleep, and a yawn would escape her every few minutes. She was back to square one the day she began her work here.
"Get it together, Sakura."
Sakura lightly patted her cheeks, trying to wake herself up before slipping on a pair of gloves. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into her warm bed after the exhausting night she had, but couldn't refuse Temari's request to spar. She needed to keep up the facade she and Kankuro had created earlier to mask what had really gone on between her and Gaara the night before from Temari. She knew refusing the eldest sibling's invitation would just make the sand woman's curiosity peak, and the rosette would be poked once more for answers that Temari needn't know.
"Just a few fights, then you can get back into bed."
Sakura turned her eyes from the mirror and towards the window, she narrowed her gaze while watching the pouring rain outside. She also knew she should probably speak to Gaara before returning back home for sleep.
'I can't believe my first kiss was with...'
Sakura refused to finish her thought, and a light blush spread across her cheeks. Gaara acted like he remembered last night, but how much exactly? Did he remember how passionate the two of them were? How touchy he was and demanding of her lips? The young woman shivered when the night played again in her mind, and butterflies began to dance in her stomach.
"You're about to battle, now is not the time for this. You'll catch him later." Sakura scolded herself, reaching for her door.
She was just about to head out of her room when she stopped and stiffened. Quickly Sakura turned around, glancing around her room. For a second she thought she felt a familiar presence.
'Gaara?' She thought, eyes dancing around in hopes of spotting the redhead.
As quick as she was to recognize it, the mysterious spirit disappeared in a flash. Sakura scanned her empty, quiet room one last time before shrugging it off. She didn't have anymore time to waste, and hurried to meet up with Temari. When she caught up to the sand-blonde waiting for her by the entrance she forced out a smile, glad to see Temari return a smile of her own. Given her attitude earlier, Sakura was skeptical on how the eldest sibling was going to greet her.
"You ready?" Temari asked before opening the door.
Sakura nodded and stepped out first. She shivered at the cold air, and quickly opened an umbrella to stop the heavy rain. As Temari stepped out and followed suit, Sakura couldn't help but ask.
"Of all the days to spar, why today?"
Temari simply chuckled before leading Sakura towards the training grounds.
"As shinobi, everyday should be spent training."
Sakura rolled her eyes at Temari's cliché words.
"Whatever you say, Sensei." Sakura mocked.
Temari let out a hearty laugh to Sakura's words.
"I like to train when the weather is different here." Temari said, lifting her eyes to the clouds above her umbrella.
"I've been trained my whole life how to fight, and survive, in our climate. The desert is my domain, but what if I were sent to fight somewhere with weather different than ours? Like, Amegakure."
Sakura nodded while listening to Temari. She knew exactly now what the sand-blonde meant, and mentally praised her for being one step ahead in her game. It was comforting to know a good friend, and ally, took her title as shinobi seriously.
"I just want to make sure I am as prepared as I can always be." Temari continued to speak.
"If another were to take my life, at least I'd die having no regrets, and that I trained myself as hard as I could to that point. That there was nothing more I could do to stop it."
Though her words turned dark, Sakura smiled lightly. Temari was wise beyond her years, and Sakura envied her for that moment.
'No regrets huh?' Sakura repeated in her mind, staring at the rain drops in front of her.
As the two walked in silence, Sakura's smile fell when the events of last night came to play in her mind again. She was a little grateful Temari invited her to spar, and spoke to her, for it tore her mind away from last night. However, now that silence filled the air, save for the rain, Sakura fidgeted in her walk.
'I wonder if Gaara is having any regrets right now.'
After her thought, Sakura mentally cursed. She had to just go there, didn't she? She hated having these constant doubts, but knew she couldn't be reassured otherwise until she got a chance to speak with the Kazekage.
'Gaara having regrets?' Inner Sakura peaked.
'What about you? You do realize that first kiss you spent your whole life saving for Sasuke-kun was used up yesterday with Gaara?'
At the thought of Sasuke, Sakura's steps stopped. She widened her eyes to the ground below and gawked while she tried to take in what her mind laid out.
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura mouthed.
How could she have let herself forget who her heart belonged to in the heat of the moment? Did her love for the raven haired man mean nothing at all to her anymore? He had disappeared completely from her thoughts last night, and her vow to save herself for him had gone ignored.
'Actually, every time I'm with Gaara I hardly think of Sasuke-kun.' Sakura admitted to herself.
It had taken a moment for Temari to realize the rosette behind her had stopped in her tracks. As she turned back to face her, she grew cautious when she caught on with Sakura's look of shock.
"Sakura?" Temari asked, trying to draw the Konoha girl back into reality.
"Is everything alright?"
Somewhere in the distance Sakura heard Temari call out to her, and she strained her mind to dismiss her worries for the moment. Taking a step towards the blonde, Sakura was about to speak up and apologize, but her eyes went round when that mysterious aura, from her room earlier, returned. Spinning herself around, the young woman stared down the road behind her and tried to catch a glimpse of anyone. However, no one walked the path Temari and Sakura were now taking, in fact, Sakura noticed how desolate the village around them had become today.
'Probably the heavy rain keeps people indoors.' Sakura thought, her eyes still traveling to catch the culprit.
However, just like before, the aura she felt vanished the instant she recognized it, and she clicked her tongue in annoyance.
'What is wrong with me today?' Sakura thought.
'Am I just imagining it? Fatigue catching on? How am I suppose to spar with Temari when I feel like I'm going crazy?'
"Sakura." The sand-blonde woman called once more to her friend.
"What are you looking for?"
Deciding she needed some easement in her mind, Sakura turned to face Temari and pointed a finger in the direction they just came from.
"Just now, did you feel someone following us?" Sakura asked.
"Eh?" Temari said, tilting her head and using her senses to focus around her.
It didn't take her long to sense that they were virtually alone, and her eyes fell back to the rosette, noting how dark the bags under her eyes were.
"I don't feel anyone." Temari said before narrowing her eyes at Sakura.
"Are you sure you're alright to spar? You look pretty tired. Did something keep you up last night?"
Temari remembered how Sakura kept the fact Gaara had attacked her some nights ago from her and Kankuro. While she didn't believe the cause of Sakura's weariness was that deep, she wondered if the younger woman was again hiding something from her. The sand-blonde continued to watch Sakura as she marched back towards her and only spoke when she passed her.
"Let's go."
Temari mentally shrugged at Sakura's passive mood. There was no way the sand woman could help the leaf woman if Sakura chose to keep things to herself only.
'Can't help those who don't want it.' Temari thought before walking to catch up with Sakura and lead the way.
While they continued on, silence enveloped the two and they only listened to the rain hitting their umbrellas. It didn't take much longer until Temari announced.
"We're here."
When Sakura looked up to the training grounds, a spherical building to the side of them caught her attention. She recognized the building immediately as Suna's office, and knew Gaara was literally just a few minutes away.
'Of course.' Sakura wearily thought.
'At least I can talk to him right away after this.'
Sakura followed Temari into the grounds, not surprised to find the place completely empty.
"Tch." Temari clicked her tongue to the deserted area.
"When it rains here, people act like it's a holiday or something and take the day off."
Sakura smirked at the woman's aggressive discipline. She would make a great teacher someday.
"At least we have a bigger arena to fight in." Sakura smirked, taking a starting spot.
Temari followed suit, opening her fan in the process before speaking to the rosette.
"Be prepared. I won't hold back."
Sakura simply brushed off a drop of rain from her nose before narrowing her eyes and smirking at the woman in front of her. Despite her exhaustion from earlier, the rosette could now feel her adrenaline rising and excitement building at the thought of fighting.
"Same goes for you."
A knock was what startled Gaara's mind awake. It was the only thing that broke his thoughtless train since he had arrived in his office. He had forced himself to stare at his papers, to empty his mind and take on the tasks he was appointed to do. As Kazekage, the redhead was not allowed to dwell on the events that had taken place with Sakura last night. Instead, he forced himself to become mindless while writing, forgetting how close he was to the leaf woman. At least, that was what he had convinced himself, that work came before her, but as the knock woke him from his blank thoughts, it was her that immediately came back to his mind.
His back stiffened to the sound and his heart raced. Every image he remembered of her last night, from her bringing him home, to the bath, to her kiss, and barely covered body in his bed played in his head. Gaara quickly growled at himself when that last image came into play. When he first woke this morning, he blamed the alcohol for his sudden curiosity of the rosette. He could not believe he could find this sort of attraction in anyone. His people and their well-being was his interest, not any individuals feelings for him or him to them. Especially not pink-haired ones from Konoha. It had to be the alcohol he concluded, and if that were the case, then why could he not push her from his mind right now? Why was she still invading in his sober thoughts?
Again, a knock echoed and Gaara turned his head and eyes to the door. He was surprised that he was annoyed that the sound was tearing his thoughts on Sakura away, but while he stared at the door, his heart picked up a little. Maybe it was the said pink-haired Konoha individual he thought of. Gaara gulped, wondering if now would be a good time to take a lunch break far away from here as he eyed his window as a means of escape.
"Gaara, are you even in there?"
'Ah. Kankuro.'
To the sound of his brother's voice, Gaara felt his whole figure relax. Though, he felt a little disappointed too that it wasn't the soft call of Sakura asking for him. Why was he so torn on how he felt towards her? He wanted to see her yet avoid her at the same time. The redhead stared at his door for a moment before answering,and he wondered why his brother chose to speak before entering. That wasn't like the brunette at all.
"What is it, Kankuro?"
There was a pause before the door slowly opened and spilled in was the puppeteer. Immediately his eyes settled on Gaara, and the Kazekage spotted curiosity in his gaze easily. He wondered for what reason Kankuro looked so serious for, he was the most lenient of their family. It wasn't until the brunette drew nearer to his desk did Gaara suddenly remember his brother's presence earlier this morning when he questioned Sakura. Kankuro had been standing right there, watching him stammer and lose his cool in front of the pink haired girl. His heart raced now while Kankuro continued to draw near. Was the option of jumping out the window still a choice? Gaara knew his brother was about to question what this morning had meant, and that made the young lord anxious.
"Gaara." Kankuro spoke, his voice serious.
It was then Gaara knew he couldn't do this. Quickly he stood himself from his desk, taking his eyes away from Kankuro's round stare.
"I have somewhere I need to be." Gaara answered plainly before marching towards his door.
At his sudden attempt to escape, Kankuro let out a heavy sigh. He knew his brother was once again trying to run away.
"Gaara." Kankuro called one more time.
"I already know about last night. Sakura told me everything."
Kankuro watched Gaara's back stiffen, his grip on the door handle also grew tighter.
"I'm sure she had no intention of telling me, but I sort of walked in on you two this morning."
The clutch Gaara had on the door's knob clenched more.
"When I saw her naked there, I thought a lot worse had happened."
An audible crack filled the room, and Kankuro peered over to Gaara's hunch stature. Immediately he saw the damage his younger brother had done to the door handle. Before the brunette could question, Gaara whipped himself around, narrowing his eyes at his older sibling.
"You saw her naked?!" Gaara hissed.
To his question, Kankuro eyes widened. Was his little brother upset he had seen Sakura in such a lewd way? If that were the truth, he was more than interested in learning what sort of attachment the redhead had with the rosette.
"I-I didn't really have a choice." Kankuro stammered, trying to ease Gaara's mind.
"You were asleep and had a hold on her. She asked me to help her, she looked like she had been awake all night."
To his words, Gaara hung his head low. Unsure how to feel about all this. Again, he told himself he shouldn't care, yet it bothered him Kankuro had seen her that way. It also daunted him that he had made her night miserable while he admitted he got one of the best night's of sleep in his entire life. What was this little Konoha woman to him?
"You look pretty torn up about this." Kankuro spoke, trying to get Gaara to open up.
There a was a silent pause, but when Gaara let out a hearty sigh, Kankuro knew he was finally ready to speak.
"I just don't want to hurt her."
Kankuro wasted no time walking to his brother's side and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You haven't, and you won't." Kankuro spoke to reassure.
"Sakura is probably just a little shocked at what happened yesterday, and that's my fault. I should have been the one to walk you home yesterday. I should have known you'd be a little unpredictable after drinking. I'm sure she will be fine after an apology."
To Kankuro's words of wisdom, Gaara mentally cringed. For starters, he didn't like the words unpredictable, and drinking, to describe him. Even though that was exactly what he was yesterday night, he vowed no one would ever use those term to depict him ever again, or see him that way. Secondly, he wasn't sure how soon he could apologize to Sakura, if at all. He knew the right thing to do was to ask for her forgiveness, again, but to actually see the pink-haired ninja so soon made him shake lightly and swallow hard.
"Can't we just send her home?" Gaara mumbled, to which Kankuro snorted before chuckling.
His laugh continued while he swung an arm around Gaara.
"I've been there before lil' bro. Every man has." Kankuro said, shaking Gaara a little by the shoulders.
"Trust me, you're going to have to face her at some point. The sooner the better. Just get it over with so you can both feel better. You owe her that much."
To his words, Kankuro eyed his brother carefully. He tried hard to read Gaara's facial expressions, wondering still if he could sense any underlying feelings Gaara may have for Sakura. He watched while Gaara's face slightly contorted, if anything he looked angry, but the brunette wasn't sure for what reason. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
"Gaara," Kankuro softly began, "by chance, do you think maybe you're starting to like Sakura a little more than just a friend?"
As soon as Kankuro spoke those words, he regretted it. He saw as Gaara's eyes nearly bulged out, and his breathing became erratic. He quickly brought back the arm he had around the redhead and took a step away from him. He knew he had rattle the Kazekage, and stiffened when his narrow eyes whipped to his.
"No." Gaara quickly answered.
"She is kind-hearted and a fine example of a strong kunoichi, and iryo-nin. I respect her greatly, and the friendship we have."
After his words, Gaara paused and Kankuro studied him more, waiting for him to continue speaking. The Suna Lord remained silent however, and Kankuro began to grow anxious waiting for his brother to explain why he wasn't attracted to her instead of pointing out her quality traits.
"But?" Kankuro said, trying to usher Gaara along.
Gaara looked back up at his brother, surprised he needed more explaining. He did just inform him why he didn't like Sakura as more than a friend, right? Gaara blinked, remembering what he said before realizing his words had been nothing but praise.
"But..." Gaara repeated, trying to find a flaw he thought would be so easily ready.
Kankuro watched while Gaara's eyes wavered under him. The young lord was trying his best to answer the brunette, but found himself beginning to grow crazy under the pressure.
"But..." Gaara started, feeling his head rattle for the first time in a long while.
"But I don't like her."
Kankuro's eyes widened for a second before he stared intently at his younger brother. Gaara seemed frazzled, to him, and for a minute he wondered if the redhead had snapped. Gaara's eyes were glancing everywhere, and his hair was growing disheveled the more he ran his hands through it from the stress.
It was then Kankuro immediately knew he had made a mistake trying to get Gaara to open up to him so soon after the ordeal. The puppeteer flinched when Gaara's eyes fell on him. The vexing look Gaara had made the brunette's heart race. It had been a while since Kankuro had seen his brother look so unbalanced.
"I don't like her." Gaara repeated before taking a step towards Kankuro.
"I-I heard you lil' bro." Kankuro stammered.
"It's cool. I was just wondering."
"But, she is a good shinobi, and she's really kind to me." Gaara said again, another step to his brother.
As Gaara was closing the gap between them, Kankuro took a step back. He was becoming incredibly uncomfortable under Gaara's intent stare and flabbergasted words.
'Did I break him?' Kankuro wondered, a scenario drawing in his mind of how the council would surely punish him for the rest of his life for making the Kazekage snap.
"But I don't like her. I just like her as a friend." Gaara repeated, bringing Kankuro out of his trance.
"That's alright, Gaara. You can like or dislike whoever you want."
"I don't dislike her, I like her!" Gaara countered, taking another step towards Kankuro.
"But I don't like her either."
A small chuckle swayed in Gaara's throat, it was a nervous laugh, but one that made Kankuro's eyes go round. He couldn't even remember the last time he had heard Gaara laugh. It was unsettling to say the least, and quickly the brunette looked around the room for an umbrella.
'I think it's time he have a chat with Sakura.' Kankuro thought.
He wasn't sure if Gaara speaking with Sakura would help the cause, or make it worse. What Kankuro did know, though, was that he no longer wanted to have this conversation or to make Gaara any more enervating. Reaching for an umbrella, Kankuro turned back to the Kazekage after he nabbed the item. He watched while his brother began to scratch at the kanji scar on his head and his eyes continued zip back and forth at the carpet below him.
"Hey, how about we go for a small walk? It's about time for a break anyway." Kankuro spoke.
"We can go out and get some fresh air."
Instead of answering, Gaara ignored his brother's request. The young lord continued to dig at his mark with his fingernail while deep in thought. As Kankuro waited, he could see his brother's head begin to turn red in irritation from the scraping and it was then he decided to intervene. He swung an arm across Gaara's shoulders, which caused the young redhead to flinch and be surprised as the brunette lead him out the door.
"Where are we going?" Gaara finally asked, sounding a bit more composed.
"Just for a walk." Kankuro answered, glad to hear some calm back in his brother.
"I have a lot to work on though." Gaara countered, though his steps continued in sync with Kankuro's.
Kankuro's hold on Gaara only tightened, ensuring the young Kazekage that he was going to walk with him to the training grounds. He remembered Temari asking Sakura to join her to spar, and knew exactly they'd find the rosette there. He hoped she would notice them, and take a moment to speak with Gaara so some ease could wash over the young lord. Hopefully Gaara would take some of Kankuro's wisdom too and not run away again.
"You're the Kazekage. You could take a month off if you wanted." Kankuro spoke to guarantee the young lord.
"Besides, it'll be about another year before this rain comes. Let's go out and enjoy it."
As Kankuro lead Gaara outside, he was mildly surprised to hear the redhead agree.
"Alright. A short walk, but just you know, I don't like her."
Kankuro bit his lip to Gaara's random confession, he really wondered if he was doing the right thing.
"I would have never guessed."
Sakura gasped when she felt the mysterious presence from before return.
'What is that?!' She screamed in her mind, turning her head and attention to the side of her and hoping to catch sight of it.
As quick as her eyes turned though, Sakura had to throw her hands up to shield herself from a sudden gust of wind. The rosette dug her heels deep into the mud to stop her body from toppling over from the strong breeze.
"If you keep letting yourself become distracted, you'll be heading out from this arena in a stretcher!"
Forgetting the sudden aura, Sakura clicked her tongue and glared at Temari in front of her. She knew the sand-blonde was mocking her and her abilities, but she was also accurate. Sakura knew better than to let herself become distracted like she was now, yet it seemed the being from before had suddenly grown stronger. It also made her feel all the more maddening when Temari couldn't sense it like she could. Was lack of sleep causing her to become neurotic, or was her perception just much stronger than Temari's? It was driving her crazy that she could feel someone near her, yet she could not see them. Her anger showed when she countered.
"We'll be at it all day if you keep hiding behind that fan of yours!"
Temari's face sneered to that remark.
"What did you say?!" Temari barked before showing off her fangs.
Sakura's eyes went round to Temari's sudden burst of anger. It had been a while since she had seen this side of the sand-blonde. Temari was the only ninja from Suna Sakura dared not start a fight with, though, she wasn't one to back down from her either. Temari had asked her to spar, and if Sakura knew she didn't have a chance then she would have never agreed. Sakura knew her own strength, knew that she was a match for Temari. She knew she could win this if she could just get behind the Suna woman and her fan. Sakura just needed one hit.
She was far from throwing in the towel.
Standing herself back up, Sakura didn't mind that mud was now layered all over her body. The cold rain had drenched her hair, but she refused to show any sign of fatigue to the woman in front of her. Instead, she stood there, thinking of a way to sneak behind Temari while waiting for the sand-blonde to also throw the next punch. Which wouldn't be too much longer given how up an arms Temari now looked towards her.
"Yeah! Put away the fan, Temari! We want to see some close-combat fighting!"
Sakura's eyes went round and thoughts disappeared when a voice echoed in the arena. Turning her head up, she could see both Kankuro and Gaara watching them from a distance away. Sakura recognized that it had been Kankuro who had yelled, and he waved at the two of them.
'Dummy.' Sakura thought.
'What are they doing here?'
Her eyes fell to the redhead next to Kankuro, and just as quick as she saw him, she felt her heart race. They were a distance away, but she swore Gaara was watching her just as much as she was staring back at him. Immediately, the events that had happen last night between the two of them played in her mind. When she remembered the kiss they shared, and the way his hands shamefully traced up her legs, Sakura felt herself shiver with sudden excitement. Her motion had been sudden, and unannounced, but Gaara had seen it. Though Sakura couldn't see that far, his eye had twitched to her light trembling as the same thoughts now spilled into his mind.
'I should not be having these feelings for him!' Sakura groaned in her mind.
Sakura was no fool, she knew exactly what was happening with her. She knew she was starting to become infatuated with the young Suna lord. Though, that didn't mean she couldn't see the insincerity with having these feelings for Gaara. He was from Suna, and she from Konoha, what was she thinking falling for someone from another village? The probability of her even seeing him again after she left here for home could be years. She was rarely given missions to Suna, and it had been years before since she had last seen Gaara.
Secondly, he was Kazekage and she was just another random kunoichi. Title wise, she was under him to say the least. He had all sorts of woman chasing him, probably even powerful ones, or high-ranked ones from different villages and countries. Sakura stood no chance winning his complete affections over when there were better prizes out there for his picking. She had nothing special to offer this powerful lord.
Thirdly, she had spent most of her life saving her heart for someone else. She wasn't sure how ready she was to give him up if at all.
'Sasuke-kun.' Sakura thought before forcing her eyes away from Gaara.
'I should not, and cannot, have feelings for Gaara!'
Her gaze fell back to Temari, hopefully this fight could distract her from her feelings, maybe even some sense could be knocked back into her. When her eyes fell to the sand-blonde however, she was surprised to see Temari sending Kankuro a cold glare. Apparently she didn't appreciate what her brother had told her.
"If I chose to do just close-combat, this match would have ended long ago and with me as the winner!" Temari shouted at her brother.
To her words, Sakura felt her face heat up.
'This bitch!' Inner Sakura spoke, cracking her knuckles.
'She's really underestimating me.'
Sakura was smart enough to know taunting words like this were always spoken during fights. It was even a strategy for some to get the enemy riled up so they couldn't think clearly. Whether or not it was just Temari's temper, or plan of action, Sakura couldn't help herself from feeling her fuse about to blow. For some reason, the thought of Gaara being there was also beginning to send the rosette into a primal rush. She now wanted to pulverize the woman in front of her to show the young lord that she was no where near as weak as the sand-blonde claimed; and to show she could keep her own against anyone.
"Then do it!" Kankuro yelled back to Temari.
"All I see down there is a cat and mouse, and the mouse keeps hiding behind her fan."
Sakura could see Temari's gasket finally blow. Instead of words, a low scream emitted from the sand-blonde and she threw herself forward and now charged with blind rage towards the rosette. Sakura clicked her tongue at Kankuro's ignorance, but also felt a rush of adrenaline course through her knowing Gaara was going to see the damage she could inflict. Bringing her fist back, she focused her chakra into her hand and dug her feet into the mud under her. Sakura was storing power into her hand, and as soon as Temari drew close enough, she was going to land a hard blow on the young woman.
While Temari drew near, Sakura forced more chakra into her hand, and stored it in the fist she had behind her back. Her plan to knock Temari back would have worked, if for the last second Temari had not noticed Sakura's glowing fist. Skidding to a stop, and just inches away from Sakura, Temari panicked at the last second and quickly reached behind her for her fan. Sakura's eye's went round the moment Temari flipped her open fan towards her. A strong gust ejected once again from the Suna woman's powerful swing, and Sakura had no time to brace herself as the wind sent her flying back.
'That was dirty. I thought she was just going to do close-combat moves!' Sakura thought, feeling her body lift from the ground and flying backwards.
Sakura was sent soaring across the arena before her back landed against the hard wall. Her eyes nearly bulged out from the pain, and the air was knocked out of her momentarily while she fell down into the mud under her.
'Damn it!' She thought, remembering that Gaara was watching this disgraceful display.
Remembering too that she was still in battle, Sakura seethed while forcing her wincing eyes to open. Her breath returned and pupils widened the second she noticed that Temari was still charging for her. This time, instead of her fan, the sand-blonde had a fist ready for the rosette. Knowing she had no time to stand and balance herself out, Sakura instead brought her arms up and crossed them over her face. She hoped she could at least shield herself from the powerful blow Temari was about to inflict.
"This fight is mine!" Temari screamed before throwing her punch forward towards Sakura's face.
The rosette could only reinforce herself, and hope that Temari's blow wouldn't break a bone in her arm. Ducking her head back also, Sakura shut her eyes tightly, and turned her head to the side. Waiting for the hit, the rosette could only curse in her mind and scold herself for letting her guard down.
'Damn it!' She thought.
A crack echoed around the arena, and Sakura tightened herself more when the sound hit her ears. Though, counting the seconds down, she realized no punch had hit her yet.
'What is she waiting for?' Sakura thought.
'Is she showing me mercy?!'
Sakura could feel her anger peaking again and hissed while forcing her eyes open. However, as soon as her view became clear, she again felt the mysterious presence from before in front of her. It's aura was suddenly stronger, and Sakura slowly brought her eyes forward, hoping to finally physically see it. What she did see made her mouth drop and eyes go round and she let out a sharp gasp. In front of her, holding Temari's fist at bay, was a small pile of sand floating in front of her.
'What the...?' Sakura thought, now turning her attention back to Kankuro and Gaara.
It was no secret who the sand belonged to.
"What the hell?!" Temari cried.
The grains seemed to be pulling Temari in, and she had to use a little extra force to pull her hand back from the sand. After she did this, everyone stared at the floating pile for some time, wondering why Gaara had sent it out in the first place. Sakura suddenly felt very embarrassed, she didn't need the Kazekage's aid like this. Temari meanwhile felt her anger again rising, upset her brother had intervened, and quickly she whipped herself in the direction of her two brothers.
"What the hell, Gaara?!" She cried out for them to hear her, and brought her arms out to show her annoyance.
Watching the whole ordeal, and his sister yelling at them, Kankuro turned to Gaara. He knew the redhead was never one to come in between in a spar, and only brought his sand out if he felt someone's life was in peril. However, in this case, it was clear as day to see Sakura was in no life-threatening situation.
"What was that, Gaara? Why did you-?"
Kankuro stopped himself mid-sentence the second he took in the redhead's disheveled look. Gaara's eyes were wide while he stared down at his sand in the arena and his body shook lightly. He looked just as confused as everyone else was, even more so.
"Gaara, is everything alright?" Kankuro asked.
To his question, Gaara took a breath in and shook off his frazzled look. Everyone watched him while he brought his hand out towards the arena, and immediately the sand between Sakura and Temari swam through the air and towards him. Opening his palm in front of him, Gaara studied the pile of sand the minute it retracted back to him. It danced around still in the air above his open hand, and there was silence while Gaara curiously looked down at it.
Some time passed, and Kankuro was about to ask Gaara why he studied the grains so carefully before the young lord balled his hand into a tight fist. Immediately, the sand dispersed through his fingers before disappearing into the air. After that, Gaara turned and spoke.
"I'm going back to my office."
Kankuro did not reach out or speak up while Gaara left, he was just as confused to the odd behavior. He instead turned back to Temari and Sakura, who were now standing and watching the redhead depart too.
"Tch." Temari clicked her tongue.
"What the hell is he thinking getting in our way like that?"
Sakura could only remain silent, staring up still where Gaara had previously stood. She too was full of wonders of what just happened.
'That sand.' Sakura thought.
'Is that the aura I was feeling all day?'
It wasn't until Temari's call did Sakura cease her thinking.
"Look alive." Temari announced while jumping back and reaching once more for her fan.
"Our match is still not settled."
Seeing the serious look Temari now had, Sakura too jumped back, reaching into her kunai pocket, she decided she needed to pick up her agility if she wanted to beat the woman. Though, Temari was quick to notice where Sakura's hand was reaching and she too dug into her pouch for a few shuriken's. Both woman cried out while they launched their deadly weapon's at one another, and while most of the objects they tossed bounced off one another, a few of Temari's spare's had passed through and were now headed toward the rosette.
Forming her hand seals as quickly as she could, Sakura was about to perform a body replacement jutsu.
"You're too slow!" Temari cried, swinging her fan once more.
Again, a fast gust flew towards her. She was forced to shield her eyes from the wind, and the now faster shuriken as they raced for her face.
'Not again!' Sakura cursed in her mind, once again crossing her arms to protect whatever damage the flying instruments would do to her.
Like Temari's punch before though, Sakura counted the long seconds and realized the sharp objects hadn't even grazed her.
"Oh, come on!"
Sakura began to hear Temari curse in front of her and slowly she opened her eyes to once again face the small, floating pile of sand in front of her. Hearing Temari's weapons clatter to the ground, Sakura knew once again that this small form of grains had protected her.
"What the hell is this?! Is Gaara hiding somewhere?! Why is he getting in my way?!"
Hearing Temari's tantrum, Sakura turned to where Gaara had stood moments ago. She too could not spot him, or feel his familiar chakra, though chakra in the sand in front of her did feel a little like his. While the sand continued to levitate in front of her, she slowly brought a hand up to brush against the hard grains. To her touch, the sand responded by rippling under her fingers. It was at that moment, Sakura knew she had to put this fight on hold for the moment.
'Gaara and I definitely need to talk.'
'I don't like her.'
Paper after paper, signature after signature, letter after letter, Gaara repeated those words in his mind. He knew he was becoming mad, he knew if days like today continued on that he may have to check himself into an asylum. He would be stripped of his Kage title and placed into a small cell where he would spend the rest of his days denying his attraction for Sakura while playing out all the raunchy acts he did with her in his mind.
"What is happening to me?" He mumbled under his breath.
"I need to send her back home. I can't go on like this."
Throwing his head up, Gaara took a deep breath before brushing his hair back and trying once more to calm himself. He shut his eyes while he slightly meditated, trying to clear his mind and calm his nerves.
'I don't like her.' He repeated in his mind.
'Therefore I have no reason to replay those events in my mind. I will apologize to her the next time I see her, tell her I no longer require her help and send her back home.'
A small rap on the door made Gaara lower his head back before narrowing his eyes at the entry-way. He grew slightly annoyed knowing his brother was back to pester him some more. Like before, Gaara wasn't even given a chance to speak before he saw the knob turning. Surely his brother was back to ask him why his sand had stood guard in front of Sakura, though, even he admitted he didn't remember sending his armor down to aid the rosette.
"What is it now, Kankuro?" Gaara murmured, vexed.
"I told you before, I don't like-"
Gaara silenced himself the minute he caught sight of pink hair, and his heart dropped when the culprit, who plagued his mind, casually walked in.
"...Sakura." He breathed, though she had not heard him.
Sakura's attention was settled mostly at the sand that levitated above the palm of her hand. She watched it while the grains swam in the air as she marched closer towards Gaara's desk, not taking a moment to look at him or greet him.
"Did you by chance lose something?" Sakura joked.
"I've come to return it."
Juggling her hands lightly, Sakura grinned when the sand jumped back and forth from hand to hand. She had to admit, she found it interesting controlling the sand to some degree. When Gaara remained silent, her eyes finally settled on him, yet she flinched at the frayed look he was sending her. It didn't even look as though he had heard her, or cared that she was carrying some of his sand.
"Is something the matter?" She asked, worried some terrible news had reached the young lord.
Sakura drew closer to Gaara when his mouth slightly fell, he was trying to speak, but found it suddenly hard.
'I don't like her.' Gaara repeated in his mind.
'I should be able to speak with her like I speak with anyone else. She means nothing to me than just a friend.'
Clearing his throat, Gaara once more tried to send his body into his usual tranquil state. Taking in a breath, his gaze returned to Sakura's, he was finally ready to speak. Slowly he opened his mouth, about to thank Sakura for her hard work and that she may return home.
Sakura watched him carefully as he formed the words.
"I think I like you."
A/N: I just want to say a huge thank you to SakuMiChanNoGaara, who made a drawing for this fic. This is the first time someone has drawn for a fic of mine, so it really warmed my heart and brought a huge smile to my face. Thank you again my friend! If anyone is interested in seeing this awesome drawing just send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send it you.